Top 14 - Page 24 of 27 - News, interviews, reports, analysis and opinion

Tag: Top 14

Saracens’ success made me sick… now it’s my turn

2 April 2017 0 comments

Neale Harvey talks to Dave Strettle about his quest to emulate his old Sarries mates PREVIEW… Clermont v Toulon Today. Kick-off 4.15 Dave Strettle admits […]

Halfpenny demands improvement ahead of showdown

2 April 2017 0 comments

By NICK VERDIER Hungry: Leigh Halfpenny LEIGH Halpfenny has urged his teammates to snap out of their travel sickness for the trip to face Clermont. […]

I doubt that Gatland will be giving out Lions wildcards

2 April 2017 2 comments

Optimism, hypocrisy and concern. Three words that can be used to describe the game of rugby over the last week. Optimism, because all the players […]

Surely the French capital can house two top teams?

19 March 2017 0 comments

THE troubled attempts to merge traditional archrivals Stade Francais and Racing 92 is fast developing into a farce that tarnishes the Top 14. It is […]

ON THE BLIND SIDE

5 March 2017 0 comments

BY NEILFISSLER ■BRISTOL are now the favourites to land Ireland fly-half Ian Madigan if he is released from the final year of his Bordeaux Begles […]

Nothing very super about Super Rugby

26 February 2017 1 comment

COLIN BOAG The Super Rugby season has started and the SANZAR chief executive have come out slugging, claiming that this competition is the best league […]

Mermoz: I’m back in love with game at Tigers

19 February 2017 0 comments

NICK VERDIER meets the France centre who has rediscovered his passion for the game The sea, the sun, the trophies, Maxime Mermoz appeared to have […]

It’s seven heaven for Armitage with Pau

19 February 2017 1 comment

FRENCH COLUMN Life has been somewhat eventful for Steffon Armitage, the back row forward voted the finest player in Europe not too long ago. Those […]

CONFIRMED: Newcastle bring in Maxime Mermoz

16 February 2017 0 comments

As revealed in the Fissler Files on January 22, Newcastle have added title-winning credentials and proven international experience with the signing of French centre Maxime […]

Scotland captain Laidlaw out of Six Nations

15 February 2017 0 comments

Scotland have been dealt a huge blow to their Six Nations hopes with the news that captain Greig Laidlaw will miss the remainder of the […]

Scots look good so why is Cotter on the way out?

12 February 2017 2 comments

Nick Cain investigates the strange case of the Scots jettisoning their ace coach SCOTLAND’s 27-22 win over Ireland was one of the most significant results […]

My mate Vern is going to make it tough for us says Nakaitaci

12 February 2017 0 comments

By NICK VERDIER NOA Nakaitaci knows from personal experience all about the physical challenge that will confront France as they attempt to put their Six […]

Germany shock Europe as they end 79 years of pain against Romania

12 February 2017 0 comments

RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP GERMANY’S bid to qualify for a first ever Rugby World Cup got off to a flying start with an incredible 41-38 win […]

Strauss for Falcons? No, he’s off to Toulouse

12 February 2017 1 comment

SCOTLAND No.8 Josh Strauss won’t be moving to Newcastle Falcons when his contract with Glasgow Warriors runs out at the end of the season. Less […]

Cockerill courted by rival clubs in Top 14

5 February 2017 0 comments

FORMER Leicester boss Richard Cockerill is on the radar of several French clubs after moving to France to work with Mike Ford at Toulon. Cockerill […]

Scotland prop joins Brive immediately

4 January 2017 0 comments

Scotland prop Ryan Grant has left Glasgow to join Brive on loan in the Top 14 with immediate effect. The loosehead was an unused substitute […]

Hook to leave Gloucester and return to Ospreys

1 December 2016 0 comments

James Hook will leave Gloucester at the end of the season to return to the Ospreys. The 31-year old has signed a three-year contract and […]

Carl Fearns – I’m looking to tear it up at Gloucester with Ross

24 November 2016 0 comments

Carl Fearns has revealed his ambition to form an aggressive new back row partnership with Ross Moriarty to help reawaken the sleeping giant of Gloucester. […]

Nick Cain: Stay put George, it’s your best move of all

17 November 2016 0 comments

George Ford had a weird training week as part of the England team preparing to take on South Africa. First, a rumour emerged that the […]

Nick Cain: Dan Carter & Co need to be protected from medics

26 October 2016 0 comments

Rugby Union should be on red alert following the cortisone injections given to Dan Carter, Joe Rokococo and Juan Imhoff to get them through last […]

Nick Cain: Springboks must look North to stop the rot

19 October 2016 0 comments

When Adriaan Strauss stepped onto the broadcasting plinth at King’s Park in Durban after South Africa had suffered a humiliating record 57-15 home loss to […]

Jeff Probyn: No-brainer, Steve? Afraid not, more like brain dead

7 October 2016 0 comments

Talk about letting the inmates run the asylum! Sometimes you have to wonder if those working in the professional game have any idea of the […]

Peter Jackson column: Solution is needed to get Ospreys flying again

8 September 2016 0 comments

According to people who know about these things, the last confirmed flight of an Osprey over Wales took place some 12 years ago. The Royal […]

Saracens bring in French hooker

31 August 2016 0 comments

France international hooker Christopher Tolofua will join the Saracens on a two-year deal from the beginning of next season. The Toulouse front rower, 22, will […]

Harlequins confirm signing of Alofa Alofa

31 August 2016 0 comments

Harlequins have confirmed the signing of Samoan international Alofa Alofa. The news, revealed on Sunday by The Rugby Paper, follows the departure of Ollie Lindsay-Hague. […]

Jeremy Guscott: Saracens set for dynasty – like Bath, Wasps and Tigers

31 August 2016 0 comments

Every new season brings renewed excitement, and with it changes in the pecking order in terms of who qualifies for Europe, who makes the Premiership […]

Nick Cain column: Matt Burke’s law on summer season is good sense

31 August 2016 0 comments

Matt Burke was not only a great Wallaby full-back, he is a measured and respected commentator on the game. That’s why when Burke recently cut […]

Shane Williams column: Answers to this Pro12 predicament lie within

5 August 2016 0 comments

Is the world going mad or are the Pro12 administrators really considering sending players to the United States, South Africa or Canada to try to […]

Boudjellal dismisses Dominguez rumours

12 July 2016 0 comments

Rapidly growing rumours of Toulon coach Diego Dominguez exiting the club have been played down by Mourad Boudjellal. Toulon’s owner has been reported to have […]

London Irish confirm George Robson signing

28 June 2016 0 comments

As revealed by The Rugby Paper on June 19, London Irish have signed experienced second-row George Robson. The 30-year-old former Harlequins stalwart joins the Exiles […]

Nick Cain looks at the Wallabies’ key personel

9 June 2016 0 comments

All’s fair in love and war – and baggage searches – when England play Australia in any sport. That’s why, after promising his fellow Aussies […]

Shane Williams column: That Twickenham horrow show will be a blessing in disguise

9 June 2016 0 comments

The only positive for Wales to take out of their pretty desperate performance against England last Sunday was at least that wasn’t against the All […]

Jeff Probyn column: Your players have stepped it up Eddie Jones, now it’s your turn

8 June 2016 0 comments

While reading another interview with Eddie Jones imploring his players to raise the bar yet higher, I must admit to being a little puzzled: why […]

Nick Cain column: Wallabies will be formidable on fast ground Down Under

19 May 2016 0 comments

George Smith has always defied convention, and the 35-year-old veteran Aussie openside continues to do so, capping his first – and most likely last – […]

Nick Cain column: Mercenaries under fire as Agustin Pichot cries foul

18 May 2016 0 comments

Agustin Pichot was always a visionary scrum-half and the former Argentine captain has wasted no time in getting stuck into the three-year international residency ruling […]

Nick Cain column: Saracens can batter down the gates of Europe

12 May 2016 0 comments

Two years ago Saracens hit the wall. Then, as now, there was a European and Premiership double for the taking, but at that time Mark […]

Young Gun: Levi Douglas- Bath flanker

6 May 2016 0 comments

Levi Douglas was happy playing in France but an unexpected turn of events has brought him back to England. The 20-year-old started his second season […]

Jeff Probyn column: Sorry Jerry Guscott, but I disagree with your Pro12 prognosis

28 April 2016 0 comments

I read with interest last week’s article by Jerry Guscott and his thoughts on why he thinks the Pro12 has failed to register any teams […]

Dream Team: Bryce Heem- Worcester and former Chiefs and New Zealand sevens wing

25 April 2016 0 comments

1. Ben Franks – The London Irish prop is such a big guy and he can be as strong and powerful in the scrum as […]

Premiership’s policy to attack is welcome surprise for Tom Marshall

22 April 2016 0 comments

Gloucester‘s Kiwi full-back Tom Marshall admits he has been pleasantly surprised by the attacking intent he has witnessed in Premiership rugby since his high profile […]

Nick Cain column: Gypsygate opens a can of worms for World Rugby

13 April 2016 0 comments

Where does offensive, derogatory or discriminatory language, or behaviour, begin and end? That is the question that World Rugby are going to have to adjudicate […]

Jeff Probyn column: I see Italy becoming a real powerhouse of the North

8 April 2016 0 comments

Brendan Gallagher’s feature on the future of Italian rugby last week got me thinking – and not just about the Azzurri and their future but […]

European dates announced for 2016/17

30 March 2016 0 comments

With the knockout stages of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup approaching, EPCR has announced the key dates for the 2016/17. Next season’s tournaments will […]

Peter Jackson column: Why France are at sixes and sevens over David Smith

3 March 2016 0 comments

There was a time when rugby enjoyed a titter at football’s expense over their nationality laws and the amusing case of a balding Cockney centre-half. […]

Exeter sign Wallaby Lachlan Turner

16 February 2016 0 comments

Exeter Chiefs have bolstered their wing option with immediate signing of Australian international Lachlan Turner. The 28-year-old touched down at Sandy Park this morning to […]

Intense competition at Bath will make Taulupe Faletau even better – Luke Charteris

11 February 2016 0 comments

Luke Charteris reckons Bath can bring the best out of Taulupe Faletau. The Wales pair and former Newport Gwent Dragons team-mates will be reunited at […]

Springbok Olivier signs new Warriors deal

3 February 2016 0 comments

South Africa international Wynand Olivier has committed his future to Worcester after signing a new contract with the club. The 2007 World Cup winner joined […]

Ian Madigan to leave Leinster and join Bordeaux

29 December 2015 0 comments

Leinster confirmed yesterday that Ian Madigan will leave the Irish province at the end of the current season to join Bordeaux Bègles in the French […]